Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-08-11
KEEPERS OF THE zoo.
An Interesting Talk with One of
Them.
Alone with the Animals at Night-No
Tame Lions or observation-disclosures
OF Those Born In Captivity-Fool-
hardness of Visitors.

The 900" is not an animal. 1t is
the name popularly given to the Zoo
logical Gardens, London, and, cur
tailed as it is, everybody understands
it, and saves breath by the convenient
abbreviation.
Very interesting these Geological
Gardens are, and the visitor to the
great metropolis as surely takes them
in with his sightseeing as he takes the
Tower, Westminster Abbey and
Madame Tussaud's. They cover acres
and acres of ground in Regents Park,
and nowhere else, except, perhaps, in
Paris, can you see such splendid col
lection of wild animals.
The keepers are not less interesting
than the animals themselves, but while
any one who has a shilling to spend
may see the animals, it is only by spe-
cial favor that you can chat with the
keepers, and learn from them their ex-
periences with the visitors and the
specimens.
We were objects of the special favor
of which we have spoken, and through
the kindness of Mr.. Sclater, the secre-
tary, and Mr.. Bartlett, the superinten-
dent, we were introduced to one keep
er who has been employed in the gar
dens for more than thirty years. He
was quiet, modest sort of fellow, not
at all eager to talk, but we persuaded
him to let us into some of his secrets,
as we wandered with him from cage to
cage; now where apanther was crouch
ing in the fork of tree erected in its
den; then by the bear-pits, where a
hairy black fellow stood on his haunch-
es, with his mouth wide open for the
disproportionate bits of cake which
visitors were flinging to him; now un-
der the craning necks of the giraffes;
and then where the hoarse sea-lions
and soft-eyed seals were splashing in
their tanks
"We begin in this way, sir" he said,
in answer to our question. "When a
man comes in young, as l did
wasn't more than eighteen-he is put
to work with one of the older keepers
until he gets to be familiar with the
animals. We have to keep sharp
eye on these young fellows, sir, for
they are not as careful as they should
be, and can easily do lot of mischief,
either by over-feeding, or under-feed-
ing, or failing to report when an ami
NAL is out of order. But when the be-
ginner shows that he is made of the
proper stuff, he is put in charge of a
certain group of animals-may be the
llamas, or may be the pelicans, or
may be the kangaroos, or the beavers,
or the emus. He is still watched by
the older hands, but if he behaves HIM
self more confidence is placed in him.
and he is left to himself.
This is the usual way, but it was
different with me. dropped into the
job of night watchman as soon as en-
tered the service of the garden"
mot pleasant position" said we,
and pictured him patrolling the wind
ing paths when all the crowd had de-
parted, and night had fallen, and he
was alone in the dark with more
savage creatures than could be found
in a years journey through the in
terror of Africa. The iron bars, it
seemed to us, could not have been
altogether reassuring as he witnessed
the dusky forms moving behind them,
and saw, perhaps, the glow of some
ferocious monsters eye.
''How did you like itP" we con-
tinued.
'Well. l must say that didn't like
1t. 1t wasn't so bad when they were
quiet, but when they set up bowling,
it was awful
Of course he said "'owling" and
.hawful,n " and if the reader wishes to
possess himself of the keepers manner
of speaking, he must scrupulously put
his wherever they ought not to be, and
discard them wherever they have q
rlgnllul piacc.
Yes; and no sooner did one begin, "
he continued, "than the whole lo'
would follow. Not that any thing evel
happened, though one night did meet
a bear that had broken loose; but
you see, the gardens are lonely, being
nearly surrounded by the park. and
couldn't quite relish i"
But when you have been will
them many years, you grow familiar
with the ANIMALS, and they learn t
know you and recognize you, dom
they" we inquired.
They may learn to recognize us
but we don't grow familiar with them
A wild beast Is a wild beast. sir; there
no such thing as tame hon or . tam
jaguar. He may seem to be tame ou
she original savage is in his breast Jus